Trump Says He Doesn't Want Poor People In Charge Of The Economy

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a rally with supporters at an arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S. June 21, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

President Donald Trump, addressing criticism that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and others in his Cabinet are too rich, said at an Iowa rally Wednesday that he doesn’t want poor people in charge of the economy.

“These are people that are great, brilliant business minds, and that’s what we need, that’s what we have to have so the world doesn’t take advantages of us,” Trump, told a crowd of about 6,000 in Cedar Rapids. “We can’t have the world taking advantage of us anymore. And I love all people, rich or poor, but in those particular positions I just don’t want a poor person. Does that make sense? Does that make sense?

Trump, during his rally, cast off such criticism, saying the appointment of such people as Gary Cohn, a former president of Goldman Sachs, would help the country better represent itself on the international stage. He noted many in his Cabinet “had to give up a lot to take these jobs.”

“This is the president of Goldman Sachs. Smart. Having him represent us, he went from massive paydays to peanuts, to little tiny ...” Trump said. “I’m waiting for them to accuse him of wanting that little amount of money.”